04/29/2017 @ 10:00 am – 10:00 pm –

Ella Fitzgerald Centennial Bash

Come hear the amazing tribute, the  Ella Fitzgerald Centennial Bash. On Saturday, April 29th, 2017 there will be a day long celebration of Ella Fitzgerald’s 100th birthday. A celebration to honor the 100th Birthday of Jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald. Vocal Jazz workshops in the afternoon at Holyoke Community College, 1940’s themed Supper Club at night at The Log Cabin in the beautiful Southampton Room. The Amherst Jazz Orchestra will accompany several local jazz vocalists and headliner internationally acclaimed vocalist Giacomo Gates, and play other music for dancing.

Tickets for the evening event are $50 (including tax/tip), and include the following:

5:45 – 6:45 – Cocktail hour featuring the Paul Arslanian Trio accompanying young jazz vocalists. Cash bar and welcome spread.
6:45 – Seating for dinner/show
7:00 – 10:00 – Giacomo Gates sings and shares stories about Ella, accompanied bnyt the Paul Arslanian Trio. Vocalists Marion Groves, Barbara Weene, Andrea Niki, Sarah Clay, Annie Patterson, Mary Witt, Samirah Evans, Carol Smith, and Leslie Alexandra McMahon sing Ella’s hits with the AJO. Ellen Cogen and John Mason present an Ella/Joe Pass feature. Carol Gus August and HCC vocalists present an Ella/Ink Spots feature.
Dinner will include a champagne toast, roasted shrimp with carrot/ginger slaw appetizer, choice of Chicken Diane or Grilled Marinated Zucchini with Quinoa, plus family style Focaccia Haddock, and a very special dessert. (Special diets can be accommodated upon request.)
PERIOD DRESS ENCOURAGED!
Dancing instruction by Stephen Bailey and Roxanne Bailey.
Tickets will go on sale in early March – look for updates here.
For more information about the workshops or the evening event, contact Ellen Cogen here or at ecogen@hcc.edu.

 

05/18/2017 – 05/21/2017 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm –

Almost Heaven dance weekend

Come to Almost Heaven dance weekend welcomes back The O-Tones for 4 fun days of swing dancing, contra dancing and harmony vocal workshops, and more! Lush harmony vocals by Mary Witt (bass), Ann Percival (rhythm guitar), and Dave Davies (lead guitar and trombone), with Jon Weeks (sax), Jeremiah McLane (piano), and Joe Fitzpatrick (drums). Swing, Blues, R&B, Jazz Standards, Soul, Waltzes, Motown, and more!

The O-Tones played this event years ago and are delighted to be invited back in a new location, hosted by Ramblewood camp near Darlington, Maryland.

Ramblewood comprises 200 acres of private, wooded, riverside property, with:

• dance hall that comfortably accommodates 250 contradancers
• outdoor dance pavilion for about 200 contradancers
• dining hall & lounge for 250 with comfortable seating, salad bar, and 24-hour beverage bar
• picturesque pond with canoes and fire ring
• expansive lawns and amphitheater
• over 400 modern beds with TempurPedic mattresses

The main dance hall has a sprung wooden floor, padded seating, kitchen, restroom, and a spare room we like to use for the Jenny-dress boutique.  The dining hall is part of a central complex that also features a spacious lounge, dance hall for about 100 people, and two outdoor covered decks.

The full program features 9 meals, starting with dinner on Thursday and ending mid-afternoon Sunday.  In-between are days packed with workshops, evenings of contra and swing/couples dances. Workshops may include contradance, swing, waltz, Salty Dog Rag, Dutch Crossing, singing, instruments, play with the band, and more. With 11 musicians on staff in 2015, most dance workshops will feature live music.  Evening dances are followed by snacks and camaraderie at the central recreation complex.

05/27/2017 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm –

Music at Paradise City Arts Festival Northampton

Music at Paradise City Arts Festival Northampton. The O-Tones trio will be playing Swing, Soul, Blues, R&B, and Motown for your shopping pleasure at Northampton’s classy arts festival, Paradise City Arts. Music will be in a new tent and include Mary Witt (vocals and bass), John Caban (vocals and guitar) and Ben Kohn (piano). Come shop, eat, dance, and more at this wonderful array of art and craft, handmade by local and national artists.

06/11/2017 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm –

Historic Stanley Park concert & dancing

The O-Tones full 6-piece band, with beautiful vocal harmonies, hot sax, soulful guitar, and boogie woogie piano, will delight your senses. Come spend your summer evening with a fun mix of Swing, Motown, Blues, Latin, and more styles for listening and dancing. This is a sweet music series in the Beveridge Pavilion with room to dance. Before the show you can wander the beautiful grounds, gardens, fountains, wooded paths, and forest, even have a picnic.

07/08/2017 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm –

1794 Meeting House New Salem show

1794 Meeting House New Salem show by The O-Tones trio. Singers Ann Percival (guitar), Mary Witt (bass), and Rob Fletcher (guitar and harmonica) join in beautiful harmonies. From Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra Jazz and Swing to Soul and Motown by Marvin Gaye and Aretha Franklin, the pews will be rockin’ and the dance floor will be sizzling. Kerry Blount on soulful tenor sax will be joining the singers with his beautiful solos. Kerry has been a member of The O-Tones since the early 1990s and adds his delicious stylings on every song. Come experience this beautiful historic venue, a great place to hear music!

08/05/2017 @ 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm –

Gala Fundraiser Bidwell House Museum

Take a drive to the beautiful Berkshires to help celebrate and support this historic museum. A lovely late afternoon summer garden party with music by The O-Tones trio. Good food and drink accompanied by Swing, Jazz, Blues, Soul, and more. Mary Witt (vocals & bass), John Caban (vocals & guitar) and Chris Haynes (piano and accordion)

The Bidwell House Museum, set in the Berkshire hills of Western Massachusetts, is an elegant Georgian saltbox originally built circa 1750 as a parsonage. Authentically restored, filled with antiques and surrounded by 192 acres of beautiful grounds and hiking trails, the museum tells the story of the early settlement of the Berkshires. The museum is open Thursday through Monday between 11 am and 4 pm from Memorial Day to Columbus Day, with tours on the hour.

The Mission
The Bidwell House Museum is a New England heritage site providing a personal encounter with history, early American home life, and the Berkshire landscape through its land, house and collection. The Museum is a non-profit educational institution for the benefit of the community and today’s audiences of all ages, dedicated to preservation, scholarship and enjoyment of the landmark site.

08/12/2017 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm –

Wedding cocktail hour

Cocktail hour instrumental music at a beautiful wedding venue in the Pioneer Valley with a gorgeous view. Mary Witt (bass), Ben Kohn (piano) and Bob Ferrier (guitar). There will be some jazzy sounds!

08/27/2017 @ 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm –

Celebrate Holyoke music!

We are delighted to be a Celebrate Holyoke music! participant this year. This is a great city fair with music, food, and lots of activities for the whole family. The O-Tones will have Mary Witt (vocals & bass), Ellen Cogen (vocals), John Mason (vocals & guitar), Kerry Blount (tenor sax), Walt Chapman (piano), and Joe Fitzpatrick (drums). Come join us for a fun mix of Jazz, Swing, Motown, R&B, Soul, and Latin with 3-part harmony vocals.

09/30/2017 @ 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm –

Boston wedding quartet will bring The O-Tones Jazz and Motown to an intimate restaurant setting. With Ben Kohn on grand piano and John Caban on guitar, Mary Witt will sing and play bass, while Pieter Struyk brings the groove on drums. A small stage with a big sound, the quartet will entertain the wedding guests from the cocktail hour through dinner and into dancing.